Yushima Tenjin Shrine Tokyo

Many people pray in front of the temple

Nadeushi (“stroking cow”) at Yushima Tenjin Shrine – to cure ills if stroked

Ema (絵馬) are wooden plates at Shinto Shrines in which visitors write their wishes on wooden plates

Yushima Tenjin Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo. It was established in 458 A.D. in order to worship Ameno-tajikaraono-mikoto. The shrine also honored scholar Sugawara Michizane in the year 1355. In October 1478, Oota Dokan (1432-86), a war lord in Kanto region, rebuilt the shrine. The shrine is also famous for beautiful blossoms of the Ume (Japanese apricot) and a matsuri is held every February and March in honor of the Ume blossoms. Access to Yushima Tenjin Shrine: Yushima Subway Station, Exit 3, Oedo and Chiyoda subway lines. 2 minutes walk.

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Evening Rush Hour at Ochanomizu

In front of the JR Ochanomizu Station. Rear curtain sync (flash fired after shutter is released) with a 1 second exposure on a tripod.

Ochanomizu is in Chiyoda-ku in Tokyo and is where Tokyo Medical & Dental University, Juntendo University & Hospital, Meiji University, and Kanda Myojin Shrine are located. Akihabara is located about 1 km from Ochanomizu. You can access Ochanomizu by the JR Chuo Line, Marunouchi Line or the Chiyoda Line.

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Minowabashi

Minowabashi or “Joyful Minowa” is a local shopping street located in Arakawa-ku in Tokyo. It is 400 meter long street with inexpensive food and produce vendors and bargain shops. The main characteristic of the street are friendly vendors who make the neighborhood an inviting place to visit. To access please take the Hibiya subway line and exit at the Minowa Station. Minowabashi is only a five minute walk from the station.

Shinjuku


Studio Alta is one of Shinjuku’s prime meeting spots with it’s large screen. Photo taken in the 1990’s


Shinjuku is a major district in Tokyo that is known for skyscrapers, shopping and electronic stores, and a lively dining and entertainment district. Another interesting site worth visiting in Shinjuku is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and it’s observation decks and picturesque views of Tokyo. Shinjuku is known as the world’s busiest train station with ten platforms that serve 20 tracks and 12 train links, and more than 3.6 million daily passengers using the station. To access Shinjuku Station you can take JR Lines: Yamamote Line, Chuo Main Line Rapid, Chuo Rapid Line, Chuo-Sobu Line, Shonan-Shinjuku Line, and Saikyo Line. Non-JR lines to access Shinjuku are: Odakyu Electric Railway, Keio Lines, Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, and Toei Subway’s Toei Shinjuku and Toei Oedo lines.

Asukayama Park Tokyo

Asukayama Park in Kita-ku Tokyo

Asukayama Park is a public park near Oji station in Kita-ku in Northern Tokyo. It is known for Cherry Blossom viewing during the beginning of Springtime with over 600 Japanese cherry trees. It’s history started during the 18th century, when, shogun Yoshimune Tokugawa (1684-1751) built the premises for Edo’s (Tokyo) population. It was one of first public parks in Tokyo. In addition, one can watch the JR Keihin-Tohoku and the Tohoku Shinkansen pass by from the pedestrian crosswalk near the South exit of the Oji Station. To access Asukuyama Park get off at either 1. Oji Station: JR Keihin-Tohoku Line or Tokyo Metro Namboku Line 2. Asukayama Station: Toden Arakawa Line 3. Oji-Ekimae Station: Toden Arakawa Line.

Shimbashi

Near Shimbashi Station October 2019

Shimbashi is a business and entertainment district in Tokyo. Many “salaryman” (office worker) and “OL” (office lady) work in this area of the city because many business offices are located there. There are many affordable bars, izakayas, and restaurants in the area. Shimbashi station has seven different railway lines converge on Shimbashi including the Yamanote line (central Tokyo), Yokosuke line (Yokohama & Kamakura), Keihin-Tohoku line (Shinagawa & Yokohama), and the Ginza subway line (Asakusa & Shibuya). Shimbashi is known for being Tokyo’s first railway terminal, for the Tokyo to Yokohama line, from 1872 to 1914. During the night time Shimbashi becomes an intoxicated “salaryman” territory, full of karaoke, izakayas, bars, and on weekends many taxis to take home the drunken after missing their train or subway. Shimbashi is full of people and it’s a very busy district of Tokyo during the evening commute hour.

Marunouchi Line Tokyo

marunouchi line

 

The Marunouchi Line is a subway line in Tokyo. It’s route is between Ogikubo Station in Suginami-ku in west Tokyo then running eastbound through Shinjuku, after that it runs through Tokyo Station eastbound, it finishes at Ikebukuro Station near the Yamanote Line. The Marunouchi Line was built after the war and was completed in 1954 and was named after the Marunouchi district near Tokyo Station. It is the one the most busiest and crowded of the subway lines in Tokyo and runs both below and above ground. The subway has a unique third-rail electric system and it’s cars are only 18m per car. Recently in early 2019 the new red colored 2000 series trains came into service with lower power consumption and wheelchair and stroller access.

 

https://www.tokyometro.jp/lang_en/station/line_marunouchi/index.html

 

Yanaka & Nezu

yanaka-nezu

Photograph taken in October 2019

 

Yanaka and Nezu located in Bunkyo ward in Tokyo is a community where you can see a slower paced life with charm. It’s also less commercialized with the prevalence of family or smaller owned businesses. It is characterized by back alleys, stores, pubs, and well maintained homes. This area survived the firebombing in World War II so you find many older buildings and temples.

 

Arakawa City Tokyo

arakawa-ku

 

In the Northeast corner of Tokyo lies Arakawa City which is called the “City of Manufacturing.” But it also has a rich history, culture, and charm. Some of the features of Arakawa are the Toden Arakawa Line or Sakura Line which is the only streetcar in Tokyo, Arakawa Yuen an amusement park, and the Sumida River. Arakawa City is where one can experience everyday life in Tokyo.